edge

Following the First World War, women’s swimwear trends began to differ across continents. In America and Europe women wore knitted swimwear which replaced the bathing suit, however there were slight tweaks depending on where you lived. In America, women favoured a practical and sporty look whilst European women opted for sleeker swimsuits which cut closely to the body. Another key difference between the two fashion trends was that women’s swimsuit fashions were accessible to a very large middle class in America, whereas in Europe there were clear class divisions on what women could or could not afford to buy for wearing to the beach. An affluent woman could set herself apart by wearing a silk jersey swimming suit, instead of a knitted one (Kidwell). Kennedy reiterates this when she wrote: “Both sides of the Atlantic favored the practical one-piece ‘maillot’, but in France, the costume’s legs were shorter in length, the knitted rib work was more finely woven and the decoration was kept to a minimum.” (34) Whilst the maillot costumes worn by women were improvements on what they had to wear before the turn of the century, they still had their impracticalities. Due to the materiality of the garment, the knitted swimsuits tended to become misshapen when wet. The fabric absorbed a great deal of water resulting in the elongation and sagging of the swimsuit. These issues often jeopardized the modesty of women’s swimsuits which concerned inter-war society. Source: fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/a-history-of-womens-swimwear/

Tynemouth-on-Tyne: lcweb2.loc.gov/service/pnp/ppmsc/08700/08746v.jpg

Bostock & Wombwell's Menagerie on the road. The elephant is pulling one of the trucks, behind it you can just make out one of the camels which is assisting.

Very likely Bostock & Wombwell's Menagerie on the Great North Road, Tyneside 1913